Interactive Multimedia Timeline

• US 20090287782A1
• Filed: 05/14/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daniel Brian Odess
• Original Assignee: Daniel Brian Odess
• Inventors: Odess, Daniel Brian
• Application Number:
  US12/153,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20090287782A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A method and system for allowing a plurality of users to collaboratively interact via a dynamic timeline that presents a plurality of events in an interactive multimedia format. The method and system allows a user to define a computer network group by setting access parameters, add additional individual user to a network group, create a timeline to receive and display a plurality of events, display a timeline to all of the users of the network group, place an event on the timeline in a chronologically ordered manner, allow the individual user to interact with a plurality of events on the timeline, and to send a notification of the individual user timeline interaction to all of the users of the network group.

Claims

1. A method for allowing a plurality of users to collaboratively interact via a dynamic timeline that presents a plurality of events in a multimedia format, the method comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a system where users, computers, networks, software, and databases interact;

b) defining access rights to said system;

c) displaying available multimedia files from said databases to said users with appropriate system access rights;

d) adding new multimedia files to said databases;

e) enhancing said multimedia files;

f) transcribing a message associated with a multimedia file; and

g) sending a notification to a user group thereby to alert said user group of said message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying available multimedia files further comprises the steps of:

(1) initially displaying all of said multimedia files to which said user has system access to from said databases in an ordered manner based upon preferences of said user;

(2) selecting a group of said multimedia files from said databases;

(3) displaying said group of multimedia files in a chronological order on a timeline if said user determines to display;

(4) displaying said timeline in a vertical or a horizontal manner as determined by said user;

(5) conducting a multimedia file property search if said user determines to conduct said search;

(6) scrolling through all of said multimedia files if said user determines to scroll; and

(7) outputting selected multimedia files.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of adding new multimedia files further comprises the steps of:

(1) determining a location of a multimedia file to be uploaded to said databases;

(2) selecting said multimedia file from said location;

(3) bookmarking said location of said selected multimedia file;

(4) defining a time and date stamp for said multimedia file;

(5) selecting a multimedia type for said selected multimedia file from a list of defined multimedia types;

(6) defining a selected multimedia network database file property to order said multimedia;

(7) transferring said selected multimedia file to said databases; and

(8) ordering said selected multimedia file based on said defined time and date stamp relative to other multimedia files stored on said databases.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of defining a time and date stamp further comprises the steps of:

(i) recognizing a pending multimedia file original creation time and date file property;

(ii) determining to accept said pending multimedia file original creation time and date file property;

(iii) defining a user-defined time and or date stamp of said pending multimedia file if said original creation time and date file property is not accepted; and

(iv) defining said pending multimedia file with said original creation time and date file property if said original creation time and date file property is accepted.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of selecting a multimedia type further comprises the steps of:

(i) displaying said user-defined multimedia types.

(ii) determining to use an existing multimedia type;

(iii) defining a new multimedia type if it is not determined to use said existing multimedia type;

(iv) refreshing an existing list of multimedia types; and

(v) selecting said multimedia type for said multimedia file.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of defining a new multimedia type further comprises the steps of:

(a) displaying available user-defined multimedia types and definitions;

(b) determining to add a new multimedia type;

(c) defining a name and a definition of said new multimedia type if it is determined to add said new multimedia type;

(d) selecting a multimedia type if determined to not add said new multimedia type;

(e) editing said multimedia type and confirming changes to said multimedia type if determined to edit said multimedia type;

(f) deleting said multimedia type if determined to delete said multimedia type;

(g) updating and storing said multimedia type; and

(h) determining to continue defining said multimedia type.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of defining a selected multimedia network database file property further comprises the steps of:

(i) displaying a file property text box for each of said multimedia files;

(ii) approving and defining file properties for each of said multimedia files; and

(iii) storing said file properties concurrently with said multimedia file.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enhancing said multimedia files further comprises the steps of:

(1) selecting a specific multimedia file from said databases;

(2) determining if said user has access rights to modify said selected specific multimedia file;

(3) deleting said selected specific multimedia file if said user determines to delete said selected specific multimedia file;

(4) modifying said selected specific multimedia file by enhancing the visual appearance of said selected specific multimedia file if said user determines to modify said selected specific multimedia file; and

(5) saving said modifications to said selected specific multimedia file.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transcribing a message further comprises the steps of:

(1) selecting a visual enhancement tool and placing a digital mark on a selected multimedia file;

(2) selecting an existing message to respond to; and

(3) defining a message type and inputting a textual message.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of selecting a visual enhancement tool and placing a digital mark on a selected further comprises the steps of:

(i) activating a digital marking tool;

(ii) developing and placing a visual digital mark over the image of said multimedia file;

(iii) bookmarking the coordinates of said visual digital mark with said multimedia file and said digital marking tool;

(iv) storing said visual digital mark in said databases;

(v) activating a message text box to enter a description of said visual digital mark; and

(vi) automatically assigning a prefix message type for said description entered into said message text box thereby to associate said description with said visual digital mark on said multimedia file.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of selecting an existing message to respond to further comprises the steps of:

(i) displaying said existing message;

(ii) selecting said existing message;

(iii) activating a message text box to enter a textual response to said existing message; and

(iv) automatically assigning a prefix message type for said textual response thereby to associate said textual response with said existing message.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of defining a message type and inputting a textual message further comprises the steps of:

(i) determining to select an existing message type or to define a new message type;

(ii) defining a new message type if said user determines to define said new message type;

(iii) refreshing the an existing list of message types if said user determines to refresh said existing list;

(iv) selecting a message type from said existing list of message types; and

(v) transcribing a textual message into a text box.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of defining a new message type further comprises the steps of:

(a) displaying available user-defined message types and definitions;

(b) defining a name and a definition for a new message type if said user determines to enter a new message type;

(c) editing said existing message type by editing a message type property for said message type and confirming said editing changes if said user determines to edit said existing message type;

(d) deleting said existing message type by deleting a message type for said message type if said user determines to delete said existing message type; and

(e) updating and storing said message type to said system.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending a notification to a user group further comprises the steps of:

a) determining if said user chooses to confirm to send said notification;

b) discarding said message and de-activating said text box if said user chooses to not confirm sending of said notification;

c) obtaining time and date from said system and assigning said time and date to said message;

d) sending said message to said databases;

e) storing and ordering said message and message information relative to other database messages on said databases;

f) drafting automated electronic notification; and

g) sending said electronic notification to said users with permissible access to originating said multimedia type and said message type.

15. A computer-implemented system for allowing a plurality of users to collaboratively interact via a dynamic timeline that presents a plurality of events in a multimedia format, the computer-implemented system comprising:

a) a general purpose computing device; and

b) a computer program executable by said computing device, wherein said computing device is directed by said computer program to;

(1) establish a system where users, computers, networks, software, and databases interact;

(2) define access rights to said system;

(3) display available multimedia files from said databases to said users with appropriate system access rights;

(4) add new multimedia files to said databases;

(5) enhance said multimedia files;

(6) transcribe a message associated with a multimedia file; and

(7) send a notification to a user group thereby to alert said user group of said message.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said computing device is directed by said computer program to perform the additional steps to display available multimedia files of:

(i) initially displaying all of said multimedia files to which said user has system access to from said databases in an ordered manner based upon preferences of said user;

(ii) selecting a group of said multimedia files from said databases;

(iii) displaying said group of multimedia files in a chronological order on a timeline if said user determines to display;

(iv) displaying said timeline in a vertical or a horizontal manner as determined by said user;

(v) conducting a multimedia file property search if said user determines to conduct said search;

(vi) scrolling through all of said multimedia files if said user determines to scroll; and

(vii) outputting selected multimedia files.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said computing device is directed by said computer program to perform the additional steps to add new multimedia files to said databases of:

(i) determining a location of a multimedia file to be uploaded to said databases;

(ii) selecting said multimedia file from said location;

(iii) bookmarking said location of said selected multimedia file;

(iv) defining a time and date stamp for said multimedia file;

(v) selecting a multimedia type for said selected multimedia file from a list of defined multimedia types;

(vi) defining a selected multimedia network database file property to order said multimedia;

(vii) transferring said selected multimedia file to said databases; and

(viii) ordering said selected multimedia file based on said defined time and date stamp relative to other multimedia files stored on said databases.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said computing device is directed by said computer program to perform the additional steps to enhance said multimedia files of:

(i) selecting a specific multimedia file from said databases;

(ii) determining if said user has access rights to modify said selected specific multimedia file;

(iii) deleting said selected specific multimedia file if said user determines to delete said selected specific multimedia file;

(iv) modifying said selected specific multimedia file by enhancing the visual appearance of said selected specific multimedia file if said user determines to modify said selected specific multimedia file; and

(v) saving said modifications to said selected specific multimedia file.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said computing device is directed by said computer program to perform the additional steps to transcribe said message associated with said multimedia file of:

(i) activating a digital marking tool;

(ii) developing and placing a visual digital mark over the image of said multimedia file;

(iii) bookmarking the coordinates of said visual digital mark with said multimedia file and said digital marking tool;

(iv) storing said visual digital mark in said databases;

(v) activating a message text box to enter a description of said visual digital mark;

(vi) automatically assigning a prefix message type for said description entered into said message text box thereby to associate said description with said visual digital mark on said multimedia file;

(vii) displaying said existing message;

(viii) selecting said existing message;

(ix) activating a message text box to enter a textual response to said existing message;

(x) automatically assigning a prefix message type for said textual response thereby to associate said textual response with said existing message;

(xi) determining to select an existing message type or to define a new message type;

(xii) defining a new message type if said user determines to define said new message type;

(xiii) refreshing the an existing list of message types if said user determines to refresh said existing list;

(xiv) selecting a message type from said existing list of message types; and

(xv) transcribing a textual message into a text box.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein said computing device is directed by said computer program to perform the additional steps to send a notification to said user group thereby to alert said user group of said message of:

(i) determining if said user chooses to confirm to send said notification;

(ii) discarding said message and de-activating said text box if said user chooses to not confirm sending of said notification;

(iii) obtaining time and date from said system and assigning said time and date to said message;

(iv) sending said message to said databases;

(v) storing and ordering said message and message information relative to other database messages on said databases;

(vi) drafting automated electronic notification; and

(vii) sending said electronic notification to said users with permissible access to originating said multimedia type and said message type.